Walking-aid frame



Nov. 4, 1947. o. L. MENDENHALL WALKING-AID FRAME Filed Feb. v18, 1946 L L A .E ,M L R. s o

Patented Nov. 4, 1947 WALKING-AID FRAME Oscar L. Mendenhall, Champaign, Ill., lassignor of one-half to Frank C. Mendenhall, Champaign, Ill.

Application February 18, 1946, Serial hlm-648,261

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in devices which are used for lending aid to individuals in walking when, by reason of physical iniirmit'ies, they are incapable of walking with entire safety without assistance or support of some nature.

The primary object is to provide a mobile structure which, for convenience, is herein referred to as a walking-aid and which consists of a three-sided frame in that it is formed of a front and side portions but is open at its rear in order that the individual may readily take a position within the space defined by the frame whereby the individual may safely support himself at the sides of the frame, by hand grip bars. In addition, the individual may occupy a position close to the front of the frame in order to have ready access to a tray which, according to the invention, is provided at the front for supporting articles the individual might wish to keep near at hand.

A further object is to provide a walking-aid of the character indicated which can be produced economically, due to its comparative simplicity of design but which will, nevertheless, be of strong, durable construction.

With these and other objects in view, the in- Vention consists in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3T3 of Fig. 1.

As indicated, the so-called walking-aid consists essentially of a three-sided frame having front corner standards IB, I I and rear corner standards I2, I3, with upper and lower front braces Ill, I5, secured between the two front standards and upper and lower side braces I6, I'I, between each front standard and a rear standard, while the space between the two rear standards is unobstructed. The front and side braces are located at different levels or are spaced vertically from one another, the upper and lower front braces preferably being at a higher elevation than the corresponding side braces, as shown in Fig. 1. This vertical offsetting of the two sets of braces is for the purpose of permitting the use of tie rods I8 extending through the corner standards for rigidly and securely mounting the lseveral braces on the standards. Each brace is for-med with a groove extending longitudinally of one of its surfaces, preferably the bottom face for appearances sake, and the tie rod which is disposed and practically concealed in this groove is of sufficient length to permit its ends to extend through the two standards at the ends of the brace. By having one end of the tie rod formed with an enlargement yI@ and its opposite end threaded to receive a nut 20, the standards can be drawn together so that each brace is not only firmly clamped between the two standards at its -ends but the entire assembly is tied into a strong rigid frame structure.

Near the upper ends of the standards; at a point above the side braces, a hand grip bar 2| is secured between each front corner standard and a rear corner standard. These hand grip bars may be attached to the standards by a mgrtise and tenon joint and, as will be apparent, a person' using the frame for assistance in walking may move the frame on the floor or other surface in any direction, the lower ends of the standards being provided with suitable means such as casters or metal disks to facilitate movement of the frame along such surface.

As the individual using the frame for walking should grip it with both hands, means are also provided in the form of a tray 22 at the front of the frame for supporting or carrying articles which a person may wish to have near at hand or carry with him. To lend rigidity to said tray, it is provided on its bottom with an extension 23 at each side edge and the two extensions lie flat against the inner surfaces of the upper side braces I6 to which they are attached by suitable fastening elements such as screws 24. Preferably, tray 22 is of a width corresponding to the overall width of the frame and the extensions 23 are spaced from the ends of the tray a distance corresponding to the width of the individual corner standards I0, II, so that the end portions of the tray protruding laterally beyond the extensions 23 can be butted firmly against the front surfaces of the standards I0, II. This also lends rigidity to the structure and as the ends of the tray lie iiush with the outer side surfaces of standards I0,

II, and all the braces are positioned between the standards, as distinguished from being attached to the outer faces of the several standards, there are no projections of any kind whatever at the sides of the frame which might catch on obstacles and interfere with movement of the frame by the person using it.

While, of course, the frame may be made of various dimensions, frames for use by adults should be approximately twenty-seven inches high and eighteen inches wide across the front with the front and rear standards spaced apart from each other about twelve inches at the top and sixteen inches at the bottom, Where the standards diverge downwardly, as illustrated.'

What is claimed is: Y

1. A mobile walking-aid structure `consisting of a frame open at its rear and comprising'front corner standards at each side of the frame,` rear standards at each side of the frame, upper and lower side braces secured between front and rear standards at each side of the frame, 'front braces secured between the front corner standards, each of said braces haying a groove extending longitudinally of one of its surfaces, a securing bolt disposed in the groove of each brace and extending through the standards between which the brace is positioned, a tray extending forwardly from the front corner standards, and hand grip bars secured between the upper ends of the front and rear standards at each side of the frame.

v 2. A mobile walking-aid cframe having four corner standards at the vfront and rear of the frame, upper and lower cross braces between the two front corner standards, upper and lower side brace members between the front and rear standards at each side of the frame, hand grip bars between the front and rear standards above the upper side braces, a tray disposed at the front across the front of the frame between the front corner standards, braces extending along the sides of the frame between the front and rear corner standards, the side braces being spaced verticallyT relatively to the front braces, each brace having ai groove extending longitudinally of its bottom surface, a rod disposed in the groove of each brace and extending through the standards at the ends of the brace, means for securing the rods in their respective grooves and standards, and hand grip bars mounted between the front and rear standards at each side of said frame.

OSCAR L. MENDENHALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

